Dispensing cartridge

ABSTRACT

A dispensing cartridge may be improved by the inclusion of an actuator and an agitator. Specifically, activation of the actuator may move the agitator within the cartridge to agitate the items and to direct one of the items into a position for dispensing. Concurrently, activation of the actuator may move a cap of the cartridge to align a dispensing hole with the position for dispensing, thereby allowing for the dispensing of a single item.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/214,828 filed on Mar. 15, 2014, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/800,973 filed onMar. 15, 2013, the entire content of each of the foregoing applicationsis hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This document generally relates to a dispensing cartridge, and morespecifically to devices, systems, and methods for dispensing an itemfrom a dispensing cartridge using an asymmetrical chute and agitator.

BACKGROUND

In general, cartridges to dispense single items (dispensables) may existfor many purposes, for example, for containers of consumables (e.g.,pill bottles), and may include many functional and practical advantages.By way of example, pill bottles that dispense a single pill may allow auser to obtain a correct dosage, ease a user's ability to open thebottle and obtain a pill, assist in monitoring a patients' use ofprescription drugs and supplements, and so forth. Although variousmechanical devices attempt to isolate a single item during a dispensingprocess, these devices often include complex mechanisms that areunreliable, have problems with jams, cannot be adapted for a variety ofitems, or are difficult to use.

There remains a need for an improved dispensing cartridge.

SUMMARY

A dispensing cartridge may be improved by the inclusion of an actuatorand an agitator. Specifically, activation of the actuator may move theagitator within the cartridge to agitate the items and to direct one ofthe items into a position for dispensing. Concurrently, activation ofthe actuator may move a cap of the cartridge to align a dispensing holewith the position for dispensing, thereby allowing for the dispensing ofa single item.

In one aspect, a device includes a reservoir configured to hold items,and a chute coupled to the reservoir, where the chute includes a chutepath to direct at least one of the items into a position for dispensing.The device may also include a housing about the reservoir and the chute,and a cap for the housing, where the cap includes a dispensing hole andis movably coupled relative to the chute to permit the dispensing holeto move into and out of alignment with the position for dispensing. Theagitator may be positionable within the reservoir. The device mayfurther include an actuator mechanically coupled to the agitator and thecap, where the actuator is configured to concurrently move the agitatorwithin the reservoir to agitate the items and move the cap relative tothe chute to align the dispensing hole with the position for dispensing.

In another aspect, a device includes a housing with a reservoirconfigured to hold items, a cap for the housing that includes adispensing hole, and a chute coupled to the reservoir, where the chuteincludes a dispensing path to direct at least one of the items throughthe dispensing hole. The device may further include a rocker mechanismalong the dispensing path in communication with the dispensing hole,where the rocker mechanism is pivotable relative to the chute andincludes an item seat. The device may also include a biasing membermechanically coupled to the rocker mechanism, where the biasing memberincludes a biasing force that holds the rocker mechanism in a firstposition, and where the rocker mechanism is pivotable into a secondposition when a force is applied to the item seat causing compression ofthe biasing member. Also, the device may include a pin attached to therocker mechanism, where the pin is movable with the rocker mechanism,and a dial counter disposed within the housing and rotatable relative tothe housing, where the dial counter is configured to be engaged by thepin when the pin completes a pivoting motion (completing a pivotingmotion includes a dispensing of an item). When the item for dispensingis directed onto the item seat of the rocker mechanism, a weight of theitem for dispensing may concurrently compress the biasing member and maypivot the rocker mechanism into the second position where the item fordispensing is released from the item seat. Releasing the item fordispensing from the item seat may cause the biasing member to pivot therocker mechanism back into the first position. The pin engaging the dialcounter may cause the dial counter to rotate thereby counting a numberof items dispensed by the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of thedevices, systems, and methods described herein will be apparent from thefollowing description of particular embodiments thereof, as illustratedin the accompanying figures. The figures are not necessarily to scale,emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of thedevices, systems, and methods described herein.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a dispensing system.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a spring-slider dispensing mechanism.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a spring-slider dispensingmechanism.

FIG. 3A is top perspective view of a rotational dispensing mechanism.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a rotational dispensing mechanism.

FIG. 4A is an isometric view of a palm-press dispensing mechanism in anuncompressed state.

FIG. 4B is an isometric view of a palm-press dispensing mechanism in acompressed state.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a palm-press dispensing mechanismin an uncompressed state.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of a palm-press dispensing mechanismin a compressed state.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a palm-press dispensing mechanismin an uncompressed state.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a counting mechanism in a firstposition.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a counting mechanism in a secondposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying figures, in which preferred embodimentsare shown. The foregoing may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the illustratedembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these illustrated embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will convey the scope to those skilledin the art.

All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety. References to items in the singular should be understoodto include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly statedotherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intendedto express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations ofconjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwisestated or clear from the context. Thus, the term “or” should generallybe understood to mean “and/or” and so forth.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting,referring instead individually to any and all values falling within therange, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value withinsuch a range is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein. The words “about,” “approximately,” or thelike, when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed asindicating a deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skillin the art to operate satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Ranges ofvalues and/or numeric values are provided herein as examples only, anddo not constitute a limitation on the scope of the describedembodiments. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language(“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely tobetter illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on thescope of the embodiments. No language in the specification should beconstrued as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to thepractice of the embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as“first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, arewords of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for dispensing asingle item from a dispensing cartridge. It will be understood that,“single item dispensing cartridge,” “single-unit dispensing mechanism,”and the like (i.e., any of the devices, cartridges, etc., describedherein) may be used to dispense at least one item/unit at a time, whichmay include the dispensing of more than one item/unit. Stated otherwise,although embodiments described herein are primarily directed todispensing a single item from a dispensing cartridge, in an aspect, theembodiments may be configured to dispense more than one single item. Forexample, in an aspect, a dispensing cartridge is configured to dispensea correct dose of medication, which may include more than one pill.

In general, the “item(s),” “unit(s),” “dispensable(s),” and relatedterms such as “dispensable unit” are intended to refer broadly to anitem, combination of items, composition, component, material, compoundor the like that can be dispensed in unit or continuous form.

While a “dispensable” or “item” may be any unit that can be dispensed,the term “consumable” or “consumable unit” is intended to refer todispensables that are intended to be consumed by a user. Consumables areintended to include a wide array of ingestible consumable items and formfactors for same. For example, consumable units may include one or moreof pills, capsules, tablets, chewables, lozenges, dissolvables,sprinkles, dissolve-in-mouth micro-capsules, orally disintegratingtablets, chewable tablets (including jelly beans, gummies, and thelike), gums, and so forth, as well as continuous form consumables suchas liquids or powders, solutions, pastes, and suspensions, andcombinations thereof. The consumables may also or instead include itemsprovided as free powders, powder sachets, liquids, liquid sachets,vials, cups, cases, other storage forms, and so forth. More generally,the consumable units may be any composition for consumption in bulk,individual, individual pre-packaged, group pre-packaged and/or mixeditem package form. For bulk form compositions, the “consumable unit” maybe a predetermined portion for dispensing such as a teaspoon of liquid,a number of pills, a milligram of powder or the like, or a similarpredetermined portion for dispensing or mixing into a compound locallycreated for dispensing prior to or after dispensing.

Similarly, the content of each consumable unit may vary significantlyand may include but are not limited to prescription medication,non-prescription or over-the-counter medication, nutritionalsupplements, vitamin supplements, mineral supplements, veterinarymedications, veterinary nutritional supplements, and so forth.Consumable units may also or instead include food and other items suchas sugar, seeds, candies, snacks, pet treats, or other foods and thelike, as well as any other pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals, or otherconsumable items not identified above. These consumables that areintended to be ingestible are also referred to herein as “ingestibles”or “ingestible units.”

While consumables may include items for consumption in the conventionsense of ingestion as described above, consumables may also or insteadinclude disposable items or the like that are intended for one time use.Thus, as used herein a “disposable” may be any consumable intended for ause other than ingestion. This may, for example, include disposablemedical items such as dressings, bandages, Band-Aids, gauze, syringes,thermometers, individually packaged units of antibacterials and thelike, as well as other items such as hearing aids, contact lenses and soforth that can be dispensed in individual units for one time use. Thismay also or instead include continuous form items not intended foringestion including personal care items such as toothpaste, toothpicks,soap, sanitizer, moisturizer, cotton swabs and the like, as well asother household items such as glue, batteries, latex gloves, and soforth. All such disposables may be a form of consumable as those termsare used herein, and consumables may similarly be a form of dispensable.

It will be understood that while the foregoing terms (item, dispensable,consumable, ingestible, disposable) may be variously used in thisdisclosure to describe embodiments of the invention, the inventiveconcept generally applies to any and all such items/dispensables, andany description of one type of dispensable will be understood to referto all such dispensables except where specifically noted to thecontrary. Thus, for example, a container for consumable items will beunderstood to similarly teach a container for dispensable items, acontainer for ingestible items, and a container for disposable items.

In general, the “dispensing mechanisms” described herein may includedispensing cartridges, containers, packages, bottles, and the like, thatare capable of dispensing one or more items. The dispensing mechanismsmay be single-unit dispensing mechanisms, including, without limitation:(1) a spring-slider dispensing mechanism where a user may pull a triggeror the like and a unit falls out, which may include a durable cavity andagitating wedge technique to prevent jamming and mis-dosing; (2) apalm-press dispensing mechanism where a user may press the cartridgeinto their palm (e.g., with their other hand) and a unit is dispensedinto the palm, which may include a durable agitator and asymmetricalchute to prevent jamming and mis-dosing; (3) a rotational dispensingmechanism where a user may twist the exterior cylinder and the unitsalign within, where approximately every 120 degrees one unit falls out,where the unit alignment prevents jamming and mis-dosing; (4) ablister-doser dispensing mechanism where a user may push a blister stripforward, which severs material to dispense single blister unit; and (5)a thumb-press dispensing mechanism where a user may depress the top ofthe cartridge with their thumb and one unit is presented at the bottomof the cartridge. Three of these mechanisms are explained in more detailbelow, along with a dispensing system that may include a dispensingmechanism with features shared throughout each of these embodiments. Acounting mechanism that may be adapted for use with any of thedispensing mechanisms described herein, or other dispensing mechanisms,is also explained in more detail below.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a dispensing system 100, which includesa dispensing mechanism 102. The dispensing mechanism 102 may include areservoir 104, a position for dispensing 106, a chute 108, a housing110, a cap 112, an agitator 114, and an actuator 116. The dispensingmechanism 102 may be used to dispense a single item or multiple items.The dispensing mechanism 102 may be may be fully disposable, partiallydisposable, or fully reusable.

The reservoir 104 may configured to hold a plurality of items 118, whichmay be any of the types of items described herein. The reservoir 104 maybe included wholly within the dispensing mechanism 102, partially withinthe dispensing mechanism 102, or completely separate from the dispensingmechanism 102. For example, the reservoir 102 may be housed within aseparate container that is attachable to the dispensing mechanism. Theattachment may be accomplished using a snap-fit connection, a screwconnection, a friction-fit connection, a pronged connection, a permanentmagnet connection, an electromagnet connection, and the like, or anycombination thereof. The attachment may be achieved through a feature onthe housing 110. The connection may be permanent or temporary, where thecontainer may be removed and replaced from the dispensing mechanism 102and the dispensing mechanism 102 may be reusable. The reservoir 104 maybe any type of container known in the art for housing items (e.g.,temporarily or permanently). Similarly, the dispensing mechanism 102 maybe configured to engage with more than one other container having areservoir 104 or any number of reservoirs, having the same or differentitems. Such a configuration may be useful for many purposes, including,without limitation, item mixing. The reservoir 104 and/or housing 110may be an environmentally sealed container. The reservoir 104 may be acartridge (e.g., a single-dose or single-unit dispensing container, amulti-dose, or multi-unit dispensing container), a bottle (e.g., pillbottle, medicine bottle, and the like), and so forth. For example, thereservoir 104 may offer similar protection characteristics to existingpill bottles (e.g., against moisture, and the like). The reservoir 104may include any of the following, without limitation: (1) use of plasticmaterials; (2) tamperproof aluminum foil seal on the reservoir 104; (3)cotton wool inside the reservoir 104 to prevent transportation damage tothe contents; (4) desiccant for moisture management, which may be in asmall bag/package in the reservoir 104 or in a separate desiccantchamber; and so on. The reservoir 104 may also include a bag or thelike, for example, a re-sealable bag.

The position for dispensing 106 may generally be any position within thedispensing mechanism 102 where an item is present before beingdispensed. “Dispensing” or the like, as used throughout this document,shall include the release of an item from the dispensing mechanism 102.The release may include release to a user, e.g., into the palm of auser's hand, or the release into another structure. For example, in oneaspect, an attachment is coupled to the housing 110 by an attachmentmechanism, where the item is dispensed through the dispensing hole 122and into the attachment. The position for dispensing 106 may be incommunication with the chute path 120, as indicated by the arrows inFIG. 1.

The chute 108 may generally include any structure to direct an item intothe position for dispensing 106, which may include a structure thatforms a chute path 120. The chute path 120 may be formed by any of thefollowing, alone or in combination: the chute 108, the housing 110, thecap 112, the agitator 114, the actuator 116, the reservoir 104, theposition for dispensing 106, and so on. The chute 108 may be symmetricalor asymmetrical in shape as well as with respect to an axis of thedispensing mechanism 102, reservoir 104, housing 110, or othercomponent. For example, the chute 108 may include asymmetricallyarranged surfaces about an axis of the reservoir 104. The asymmetricallyarranged surfaces may form the chute path 120. In one aspect, there ismore than one chute 108, for example, positioned to receive the itemsfrom corresponding containers and guide the items to a user-accessiblelocation. The reservoir 104 may connect to the chute 108 using a snapretaining feature or the like. For example, the reservoir 104 mayconnect to the chute 108 via clips, friction fit, sliders, and the like.

The housing 110 may generally house the items and/or the components ofthe dispensing mechanism 102. For example, the housing 110 may includethe reservoir 104, chute 108, and the position for dispensing 106. Inone aspect, the housing 110 also includes the cap 122, the agitator 114,and the actuator 116. The housing 110 may be made from any material usedfor dispensing devices, including, without limitation, plastics, metals,woods, and so on.

The cap 112 may generally be a top/bottom for the housing 110, e.g., toseal (permanently or temporarily) the housing 110. The cap 112 may bepart of the housing 110 or a separate component that may be connected tothe housing 110 via a snap-fit connection, screw connection, afriction-fit connection, magnetic connection, and so on. The cap 112 mayinclude a dispensing hole 122. The dispensing hole 122 may be any void,orifice, exit path, and the like, that may release an item during adispensing operation. The item may be released by gravity or forcedthrough the dispensing hole 122, e.g., through a mechanical or chemicalmeans. In one aspect, item may be released by a combination of gravityfed and powered dispensing. The cap 112 may be movably coupled relativeto the chute 108 to permit the dispensing hole 122 to move into and outof alignment with the position for dispensing 106. In this manner, thecap 112 may cooperate with at least one of the actuator 116, theagitator 114, the chute 108, the housing 110, and the position fordispensing 106.

The agitator 114 may be positionable within the reservoir 104 (or chute108 or other area) to agitate the items 118. The agitation of the items118 may assist in directing the items 118, for example, directing one ofthe items into the position for dispensing 106 and directing another oneof the items away from the position for dispensing 106. The agitator 114may be symmetrical or asymmetrical in shape as well as with respect toan axis of the dispensing mechanism 102, reservoir 104, housing 110, orother component. The agitator 114 may be in communication and engagementwith the actuator 116, cap 112, housing 110, chute 108, chute path 120,reservoir 104, or other component. The agitator 114 may be anasymmetrical vertical agitator or asymmetrical horizontal agitator.

The actuator 116 may be mechanically coupled to at least one of theagitator 114 and the cap 112. The actuator 116 may be configured toconcurrently move the agitator 114 within the reservoir 104 to agitatethe items 118, and to move the cap 112 relative to the chute 108 toalign the dispensing hole 122 with the position for dispensing 106. Theactuator 116 may be actuated, e.g., by a person or by mechanical device.

A spring-slider dispensing mechanism will now be discussed.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show an implementation of a dispensing mechanism. In oneaspect, the dispensing mechanism is a spring-slider dispensing mechanism200 that includes a housing 202, a chute 204, a chute path 206, and anactuator 208. In general, the spring-slider dispensing mechanism 200 mayfunction such that when a user pushes/presses the actuator 208 (e.g.,with their finger), the components of the spring-slider dispensingmechanism 200 create an agitation of the items included therein, whichfacilitates at least one item to exit the spring-slider dispensingmechanism 200, thereby completing a dispensing action (e.g., dispensinga single item).

The housing 202 may generally house the items within the spring-sliderdispensing mechanism 200 and the components of the spring-sliderdispensing mechanism 200. The housing 202 may include a reservoirconfigured to hold any category of items as described herein, including,without limitation, unit-form or continuous-form consumables.Additionally, or alternatively, the housing 202 may be configured toengage with a container including a reservoir. The housing 202 may begenerally formed by other components of the spring-slider dispensingmechanism 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the exterior of thespring-slider dispensing mechanism 200 may include the arm 216 and thecap 230.

The chute 204 may generally include any structure to direct the iteminto a position for dispensing, which may include a structure that formsa chute path 206 as described herein. As shown in FIG. 2A, the chute 204may include ramped surfaces 210 leading to a chute hole 212, where theramped surfaces 210 direct items into the chute hole 212, e.g., usingthe force of gravity to urge the items into the chute hole 212. Theramped surfaces 210 may be asymmetrically arranged such that the chute204 is an asymmetrical chute. For example, the ramped surfaces 210 mayinclude individual surfaces with different slopes, or the chute hole 212may be arranged such that it is offset from a central axis 214 of thespring-slider dispensing mechanism 200 (as shown in FIG. 2B).Alternatively, in one aspect, a symmetrical chute 204 may be provided.As shown in FIG. 2A, the chute 204 may include four ramped surfaces 210,but a skilled artisan will understand that a greater number of rampedsurfaces 210 may be provided, or a smaller number of ramped surfaces 210may be provided. Additionally, many configurations for the chute 204 maybe possible. For example, the chute 204 may include a substantiallyfunnel-shaped structure.

The chute path 206 may be a path that leads to a position fordispensing, for example, the chute path 206 may be a path that leadsfrom a reservoir to the position for dispensing. The chute path 206 maybe formed by the chute 204, or generally by the housing 202, or by othercomponents/structures within the spring-slider dispensing mechanism 200.The chute 206 may direct an item into the position for dispensing. Asshown in FIG. 2A, the chute path 206 may include the path leading to thechute hole 212, which may include a path along the ramped surfaces 210.The chute path 206 may also or instead include the path through thechute hole 212, and continuing down the spring-slider dispensingmechanism 200 to a position for dispensing. The chute path 206 may beasymmetrical in an implementation. Alternatively, the chute path 206 maybe symmetrical in an implementation. As shown in FIG. 2B, the chute path206 may lead down from the chute 204 into the chamber 220 and eventuallyto the position for dispensing 222. The chute path 206 may also beinfluenced by the ramp 226 included on the agitator 224, as well as theagitator 224 itself because of its proximity to, and its communicationwith, the chamber 220 and the position for dispensing 222. The shape ofthe chute path 206 may be useful in configuring the units therein, e.g.,items in the housing 202 may be aligned with their longest sidevertical, due to the tight fit of the chute path 206, as shown by theitem 246 in FIG. 2B.

The actuator 208 may include an arm 216. The arm 216 may be acted uponby a force generally in the direction of the arrow 218, which may thencause an agitation of the items included in the housing 202, which mayalso facilitate an item to exit the spring-slider dispensing mechanism200. The force may be a pushing force that moves the arm 216 from afirst position (as shown in the figures) to a second position in whichthe arm 216 moves in the direction of the arrow 218, which may include adeformation (e.g., an elastic deformation) of the arm 216. After thepushing force is released, the arm 216 may automatically return to thefirst position where it retains its original shape. The returning of thearm 216 to the first position may be accomplished through an elasticproperty of the arm 216 and/or through a biasing means such as a springor the like.

In general, the actuator 208 may act as a “button” or the like toinitiate the dispensing of an item. As shown in FIG. 2B, the actuator208 may be mechanically coupled to the agitator 224. For example, theactuator 208 may include an arm 216, where the arm 216 is engaged to theagitator 224 through an agitator engagement portion 234 that cooperateswith an arm engagement portion 236 of the agitator 224. The agitatorengagement portion 234 may include a protrusion on the arm 216, and thearm engagement portion 236 may include an elongated member connected tothe agitator 224. The arm 216 may be disposed adjacent to an armdeformation area 238, which is a void that accommodates at least aportion of the arm 216 when the arm 216 is actuated by a user.

FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of an implementation of aspring-slider dispensing mechanism 200. FIG. 2B clearly shows thechamber 220, the position for dispensing 222, the agitator 224 with theramp 226, a second arrow 228 showing a sliding motion of the agitator224 from a first position to a second position, and a cap 230 with adispensing hole 232.

The arm 216 may be made from the same material as the housing or adifferent material. In one aspect, the arm 216 is a deformable plasticor the like. The arm 216 may also or instead include a leaf spring orthe like. The arm 216 may also or instead include a slidable button orthe like, which may be non-deformable. As shown in FIG. 2B, the arm 216may include a substantially L-shaped structure, with at least oneflexible portion 240. The arm 216 may be attached to the spring-sliderdispensing mechanism 200 through the use of a hinge 242 or the like,which may be disposed in the vicinity of the agitator engagement portion234. The arm 216 may also or instead be attached by a glue, frictionfit, joint, pin, screw, or the like. Alternatively, the arm 216 may becantilevered to the housing 202 (e.g., the arm 216 may be integral withthe housing 202—e.g., molded with the housing 202 when made from aplastic or the like), where the cantilevered end may also be disposed inthe vicinity of the agitator engagement portion 234. The arm 216 mayalso include a cap engagement portion 244, which engages with the cap230 such that movement of the arm 216 facilitates movement of the cap230. In one aspect, the arm 216 includes at least a portion of the cap230 (e.g., the arm 216 and cap 230 may be one piece). The actuator 208thus may actuate a dispensing in the spring-slider dispensing mechanism200 by (1) moving/sliding the agitator 224, and (2) moving/sliding thecap 230 thereby aligning the position for dispensing 222 with thedispensing hole 232.

The first arrow 218 generally shows the direction of the pushing forcethat may be applied to the arm 216. One of ordinary skill will recognizethat this is merely one example of the direction of force that may beapplied to the arm 216. For example, the force may be applied from thecorner of the L-shape of the arm 216 (i.e., diagonally).

The chamber 220 may be included in a base of the chute path 206. Thechamber 220 may include the position for dispensing 222. As shown inFIG. 2B, the chamber 220 may be sized and shaped to align one of theitems for dispensing, which may be an oblong-shaped item 246. Thechamber 220 may be formed by an interior housing wall 248 and anagitator box wall 250. The position for dispensing 222 may generally beany position within the spring-slider dispensing mechanism 200 where anitem is present before being dispensed.

The agitator 224 may include a positionable component within the housing202 that is configured to agitate the items and to direct at least oneof the items through the chute path 206 into the position for dispensing222. The agitator 224 may include a ramp 226 adjacent to the chute path206 on a top portion of the agitator 224. The agitator 224 may beconfigured to move in the direction shown by the second arrow 228 inFIG. 2B, where such movement may be a sliding motion. A skilled artisanwill recognize that the agitator 224 may be configured to move in otherdirections. When the agitator 224 is moved by the actuator 208, the ramp226 may be configured to move with the agitator 224 into the chute path206 to urge items towards the reservoir in the direction of the secondarrow 228 (up towards the chute hole 212) while one of the items 246remains in the chamber 220 for dispensing through the dispensing hole232. The agitator 224 thus may agitate the items in the spring-sliderdispensing mechanism 200 by pushing items not to be dispensed away fromthe chamber 220, while trapping an item 246 in the chamber 220 to bedispensed. The agitator 224 may be disposed adjacent to (e.g., above) anagitator box 252. The agitator box 252 may be a void disposed adjacentto the agitator box wall 250.

The cap 230 may be disposed on, or be part of, the housing 202. The capmay include a dispensing hole 232. The cap 230 may be movable, wheresuch movement provides for the dispensing of an item. For example, thecap 230 may include a structure that prevents the release of itemsincluded in a reservoir of the spring-slider dispensing mechanism 200when the cap 230 in a first position (as shown in FIG. 2B), and the cap230 may permit the release of an item through the dispensing hole 232when the cap 230 is moved into a second position. The first position mayinclude the dispensing hole 232 out of alignment with the position fordispensing 222, while the second position includes the dispensing hole232 in alignment with the position for dispensing 222. As discussedabove, the actuator 208 may be mechanically coupled to the cap 230,where the actuator 208 is configured to move the cap 230 relative to thechute 204 (or chute path 206) to align the dispensing hole 232 with theposition for dispensing 222. The cap 230 may be replaceable and/orinterchangeable, for example, to adapt to different sized/shaped items.

The operation of a spring-slider dispensing mechanism will now bedescribed.

In operation, a user may actuate the actuator 208 by applying a pushingforce to the arm 216 in the direction shown by the first arrow 218. Thepushing force may be applied by the user's finger, e.g., using only onehand. The pushing of the arm 216 may concurrently cause the arm 216 to(1) move the agitator 224 within the reservoir relative to the chute 204to agitate the items and to direct one of the items 246 into theposition for dispensing 222, and (2) move the cap 230 relative to thechute 204 to align the dispensing hole 232 with the position fordispensing 222. Specifically, the agitator engagement portion 234 of thearm 216 may contact the arm engagement portion 236 of the agitator 224such that when the arm 216 moves in the direction of the first arrow218, the agitator 224 moves in the same direction, i.e., the agitator224 slides from a first position to a second position when the arm 216is actuated by the pushing force. The first position may include thedispensing hole 232 out of alignment with the position for dispensing222 and the second position may include the dispensing hole 232 inalignment with the position for dispensing 222. The sliding of theagitator 224 from the first position to the second position may alsomove the ramp 226 into the chute path 206, which urges items (i.e.,items not to be dispensed during this operation) in the direction of thesecond arrow 228 towards the reservoir (i.e., chute hole 212) while oneof the items 246 remains in the chamber 220 for dispensing through thedispensing hole 232. Because of the concurrent movement of the cap 230,which moves the dispensing hole 232 in alignment with the position fordispensing 222, the item 246 may be free to drop from the chamber 220through the dispensing hole 232, thereby being dispensed from thespring-slider dispensing mechanism 200.

The spring-slider dispensing mechanism 200 may include childproofing.

As used throughout this document, “childproofing” and the like shall beany feature that may hinder, prevent, obstruct, burden, deter, etc. theability of a child to dispense an item. For example, childproofing mayinclude compliance with one or more industry standards including,without limitation, ISO 8317, ISO 13127, ASTM D3475, and the like. Anyreference to a force required to actuate the devices, systems, andmethods described herein, when including a childproofing feature, may bea force large enough to create a childproof feature of the device, e.g.,a force that complies with an industry standard. Similarly, anyreference to a difficulty to actuate the devices, systems, and methodsdescribed herein, when including a childproofing feature, may be adifficulty in order to create a childproof feature of the device, e.g.,a difficulty that complies with an industry standard.

The childproofing in the spring-slider dispensing mechanism 200 may beenabled by the pushing force to actuate the actuator 208. Specifically,the pushing force to actuate the arm 216 may be equal to a force largeenough to create a childproof feature of the device. In addition, or inthe alternative, the childproofing may be enabled by a latch on thehousing 202 (not shown) or tabs (not shown) that are squeezed by theuser for the arm 216 to freely move. Other childproofing features mayalso be present in the spring-slider dispensing mechanism 200.

A rotational dispensing mechanism will now be discussed.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an implementation of a rotational dispensingmechanism 300 that includes a housing 302 with an inner layer 304, amiddle layer 306, and an outer layer 308. The rotational dispensingmechanism 300 may further include an agitator 310. In general, therotational dispensing mechanism 300 may function such that when a userrotates the middle layer 306, the agitator 310 concurrently aligns itemsaround a circumference of the inner layer base 314 and directs one ofthe items toward a middle layer hole 316. Additionally, rotation of themiddle layer 306 may align the middle layer hole 316 with an inner layerhole 318 thereby allowing release of one of the items.

The housing 302 may include the inner layer 304, middle layer 306, andouter layer 308 all together, individually, or any combination thereof.

The inner layer 304 may include the inner layer base 314 and inner layerwalls 320, which together form a reservoir 322. The reservoir may alsoor instead be included in a container to be attached to the rotationaldispensing mechanism 300. For example, the inner layer 304 may beconnected via a screw thread to a container having a reservoir thatincludes the items (not shown, but would be located vertically above themechanism shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). This connection may also be throughother means, including, without limitation, a snap-fit, a friction fit,and so on. The inner layer 304 may include at least one inner layer hole318 disposed about a circumference of the inner layer base 314. Asexplained below, the inner layer holes 318 may align with the middlelayer hole 316 a number of times per revolution of the middle layer 306(e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc. times per full revolution, depending on the numberof inner layer holes 318), which may allow for the items to exit therotational dispensing mechanism 300. For example, an item may bedispensed once for every 120 degrees that the middle layer 306 isrotated, or another amount of rotation. In order to aid alignment of theitems along the circumference of the inner layer base 314, the innerlayer base 314 may include inner layer pins (not shown), which may beprojections extending up from the inner layer base 314. The inner layerpins may align a single item with each inner layer hole 318, and mayprevent other items from following the aligned item as it is dispensedfrom the rotational dispensing mechanism 300. The inner layer 304 may bemade from the same material as the remainder of the housing 302, or itmay be made from a different material.

The middle layer 306 may be disposed around the inner layer 304 androtatably coupled to the inner layer 304 such that the middle layer 306is able to rotate relative to the inner layer 304. The middle layer 306may include middle layer walls 324 that at least partially surround theinner layer walls 320. The middle layer 306 may include a middle layerbase 326, which includes at least one middle layer hole 316. The middlelayer hole 316 may be disposed on the middle layer base 326 offset fromthe central axis 328 of the reservoir 322. The middle layer hole 316 maybe the dispensing hole for the rotational dispensing mechanism 300. Themiddle layer base 326 may at least partially surround the inner layerbase 314. The middle layer 316 may include the agitator 310 protrudingfrom the middle layer base 326, where the agitator 310 protrudes throughthe inner layer base 326 and into the reservoir 322. The middle layer306 may optionally include a means for engagement with an outer layer308 such that rotation of the outer layer 308 by a user also rotates themiddle layer 306 about the inner layer 304. For example, the middlelayer walls 320 may include a first set of gear teeth 330 that cooperatewith a second set of gear teeth 332 on the outer layer walls 334 suchthat engagement of the gear teeth 330, 332 allows the middle layer 306and the outer layer 308 to rotate together relative to the inner layer304. The middle layer walls 320 and the outer layer walls 334 may beseparated by a first distance 336, where a user must squeeze the outerlayer walls 334 to engage the first set of gear teeth 330 with thesecond set of gear teeth 332. The middle layer 306 may be connected to acontainer having a reservoir that includes the items, in addition to orinstead of the inner layer 304 connecting to the container. The middlelayer 306 may be made from the same material as the remainder of thehousing 302, or it may be made from a different material.

The outer layer 308 may be disposed around the middle layer 306 andcoupled to the middle layer 306 in a manner that permits the outer layer308 to engage and rotate the middle layer 306. The outer layer 308 mayinclude outer layer walls 334 that at least partially surround themiddle layer walls 324, where the walls 324, 334 may be separated by thefirst distance 336. The outer layer 308 may include an outer layer base338, which may envelope at least a portion of the middle layer base 326.The outer layer 308 may be connected to the middle layer 306 throughprotruding rings or the like, which are disposed on the middle layer 306and outer layer 308. The protruding rings may allow the middle layer 306to snap irreversibly onto the outer layer 308 during manufacture. Othermeans for connection are also or instead possible, as will be evident toa skilled artisan. The outer layer 308 may be connected to a containerhaving a reservoir that includes the items, in addition to or instead ofthe inner layer 304 or middle layer 306 connecting to the container. Theouter layer 308 may be made from the same material as the remainder ofthe housing 302, or it may be made from a different material.

In one aspect, the outer layer 308 is only present in an embodiment witha childproofing feature. Stated differently, in one aspect, therotational dispensing mechanism 300 may only include the inner layer 304and the middle layer 306.

The agitator 310 may agitate the items and direct at least one of theitems into the position for dispensing, i.e., onto an inner layer hole318 (e.g., between the inner layer pins). The agitator 310 may include asubstantially parabolic protrusion located at or near the central axis328 that extends from the middle layer 306. The agitator 310 may rotatewithin the reservoir 322 when the middle layer 306 is rotated. Theagitator 310 may include a rear wall 342 that is sloped such that itdirects items onto the inner layer base 314. The agitator 310 mayinclude an agitator arm 344 that extends in a direction substantiallynormal to the central axis 328. The agitator arm 344 may extend abovethe middle layer hole 316 and may include at least one face 346 having asubstantially V-shaped surface that is configured to align items aroundthe circumference of the inner layer base 314. Specifically, theagitator arm 344 may be configured to direct one of the items toward themiddle layer hole 316 and to direct another one of the items away fromthe middle layer hole 316 when the agitator 310 rotates. Stateddifferently, when the middle layer 306 is rotated, the agitator 310rotates, which in turn moves the agitator arm 344 circumferentiallyaround the reservoir 322, which agitates the items. The agitation mayalso include arranging the items around the circumference of the bottomof the inner layer 304, e.g., due to the agitator 310 protruding intothe reservoir 322 along the central axis 328. The agitation may also orinstead include directing an item towards the inner layer hole 318 (andpossibly the aligned middle layer hole 316) while forcing other itemsaway through the movement of the agitator arm 344 and the shape of theface 346.

The chute in the rotational dispensing mechanism 300 may be formed bythe inner layer walls 320. The chute path may be formed by anycombination of the inner layer walls 320 and the agitator 310 (e.g., therear wall 342, agitator arm 344, or face 344 of the agitator 310), orany of these components individually. The cap may be formed by the baseof the housing 302, which may be formed by any combination of innerlayer base 314, the middle layer base 326, and the outer layer base 338,or any of these components individually. Alternatively, the cap may beformed by a separate structural piece. The actuator of rotationaldispensing mechanism 300 may be any one of the inner layer 304, themiddle layer 306, or the outer layer 308, or any combination thereof.For example, the actuator may be the outer layer 308 in animplementation where the outer layer 308 is engaged with the middlelayer 306 to rotate the middle layer 306. Alternatively, the actuatormay be formed by a separate structural piece.

The operation of a rotational dispensing mechanism will now bedescribed.

In operation, a user may actuate the rotational dispensing mechanism 300by rotating the middle layer 306 about the inner layer 304. The rotationof the middle layer 306 may concurrently rotate the agitator 310 and themiddle layer base 326. Rotation of the agitator may align items aroundthe circumference of the inner layer base 314, where the agitator arm344 directs one of the items toward an inner layer hole 318 or themiddle layer hole 316 and directs another one of the items away from aninner layer hole 318 or the middle layer hole 316. Rotation of themiddle layer base 326 may align the middle layer hole 316 with one ofthe inner layer 318 holes thereby allowing release of one of the itemsthrough the holes 316, 318.

The rotational dispensing mechanism 300 may include childproofing.

The childproofing in the rotational dispensing mechanism 300 may beenabled by the inclusion of the outer layer 308. Specifically, the outerlayer 308 may be configured such that it can only engage the middlelayer walls 324 when a squeezing force is applied to the outer layer308. In this manner, the middle layer 306 may only rotate when the outerlayer 308 is rotated and the squeezing force is applied. This squeezingforce, shown by the force direction arrow 348, may be a force largeenough to create a childproof feature of the rotational dispensingmechanism 300. In this manner, if a user does not squeeze the outerlayer walls 334 with a minimum required squeezing force, the gear teeth330, 332 will not engage. In addition, or in the alternative, animplementation may include an actuating arm (not shown) that allowsengagement of the middle layer 306 (e.g., the first set of gear teeth330) without squeezing the outer layer walls 334, because the actuatingarm may directly engage the middle layer 306 (e.g., the first set ofgear teeth 330).

A palm-press dispensing mechanism will now be discussed.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an implementation of a palm-press dispensingmechanism 400. Specifically, FIG. 4A shows the outside of a palm-pressdispensing mechanism 400 in an uncompressed state, and FIG. 4B shows theoutside of a palm-press dispensing mechanism 400 in a compressed state.In general, the palm-press dispensing mechanism 400 may function suchthat when a user presses the palm-press dispensing mechanism 400 (e.g.,against their palm), the components of the palm-press dispensingmechanism 400 create an agitation of the items included therein, whichfacilitates at least one item to drop down and exit the palm-pressdispensing mechanism 400, thereby completing a dispensing action (e.g.,dispensing a single item). As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the palm-pressdispensing mechanism 400 may generally include a housing having a firstsleeve 402 and a second sleeve 404.

The first sleeve 402 may include first sleeve walls 406 and a base thatincludes a cap (not shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B).

The second sleeve 404 of the housing may include second sleeve walls 408and a top 410. The second sleeve 404 may slidably engage with the firstsleeve 402 such that, when a pressing force normal to the cap is appliedto an end of the device (e.g., in a direction shown by arrow 412), thefirst sleeve 402 and the second sleeve 404 slide relative to one anotheralong the first and second sleeve walls 406, 408 thereby creating acompressed state for the palm-press dispensing mechanism 400 (as shownin FIG. 4B) where the base and the top 410 are separated by a smallerdistance than the distance between the base and the top 410 when thepalm-press dispensing mechanism 400 is in an uncompressed state (as inFIG. 4A).

FIGS. 5A and 5B also show an implementation of a palm-press dispensingmechanism 500. Specifically, FIG. 5A shows a cross-sectional view of apalm-press dispensing mechanism 500 in an uncompressed state, and FIG.5B shows a cross-sectional view of a palm-press dispensing mechanism 500in a compressed state. In general, and as discussed above, thepalm-press dispensing mechanism 500 may include a housing having a firstsleeve 502 and a second sleeve 504, where the first sleeve 502 includesfirst sleeve walls 506 and the second sleeve includes second sleevewalls 508. The first sleeve 502 may freely rotate about the central axis534 with respect to the second sleeve 504, and translate parallel to thecentral axis 534 (in one aspect, all other translational and rotationalmotion of the first sleeve 502 with respect to the second sleeve 504 areconstrained). Although specific components of the palm-press dispensingmechanism 500 are referred to herein as being contained within eitherthe first sleeve 502 or the second sleeve 504, a person of ordinaryskill will understand that the components may generally be contained ineither sleeve unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the text.

The first sleeve 502 may generally include a base 510 that includes acap 512. The first sleeve 502 may also include a dispenser tube 514 thatprotrudes through the base 510. Additionally, the first sleeve mayinclude an agitator 516.

The base 510 may include the cap 512 or any other structure thateffectively seals the first sleeve 502. The base 510 may be located afirst distance from the top 518 of the palm-press dispensing mechanism500 (which may be disposed on the second sleeve 504) when the palm-pressdispensing mechanism 500 is in the uncompressed state, and the base 510may be located a second distance from the top 518 when the palm-pressdispensing mechanism 500 is in the compressed state, where the firstdistance is greater than the second distance.

The cap 512 may effectively seal the first sleeve 502. The cap 512 mayalso include a dispensing hole 520 for the device. The dispensing hole520 may be the orifice in which the dispenser tube 514 (or a portionthereof, e.g., an item seat 522) protrudes during a dispensingoperation. The cap 512 may contain a rocker mechanism that can fit adesired number of items.

The dispenser tube 514 may include an item seat 522. The item seat 522may be concealed by the base 510 of the first sleeve 504 when thepalm-press dispensing mechanism 500 is in the uncompressed state. Theitem seat 522 may be exposed when the palm-press dispensing mechanism500 is in the compressed state. The dispenser tube 514 may be situatedwithin the palm-press dispensing mechanism 500 below an item hole 524included as part of the second sleeve 504. The item seat 522 may besized and shaped to fit one or more items. For example, the item mayhave a specific item size and item shape, and the dispenser tube 514 mayinclude a size and shape configured to cooperate with the item size anditem shape to dispense the item. The dispenser tube 514 may be removableand replaceable with a second dispenser tube having at least one of adifferent size, shape and material. Such a removal or replacement mayoccur, for example, on a factory line, where physically differentdispenser tubes may be attached to an otherwise standard palm-pressdispensing mechanism. The dispenser tube 514 may be part of, orconnected to, the first sleeve 502, the second sleeve 504, or it may bea separate piece altogether. For example, the dispenser tube 514 may beconnected to the first sleeve 502 via a snap retaining feature or thelike.

The agitator 516 may include an asymmetrical shape, and or be locatedoff-center from the central axis 534 of the palm-press dispensingmechanism 500. The agitator 516 may protrude from the base 510 of thefirst sleeve 502, where it is disposed at least partially beneath thechute 526 in the uncompressed state and disposed at least partiallywithin the chute 526 in the compressed state. The agitator 516 may sealthe agitator hole 528 of the chute 526 in the uncompressed state, wherethe agitator prevents items from falling through the agitator hole 528.Alternatively, the agitator hole 528 may be sized such that items maynot pass through. The motion and/or the shape of the agitator 516 mayassist the palm-press dispensing mechanism 500 in directing items towardthe item hole 524. The agitator 516 may be connected to the cap 512using a snap retaining feature or the like. As discussed below, theagitator 516 may be movable in relation to the second sleeve 504 and thechute 526.

The second sleeve 504 may generally include the second sleeve walls 508and the top 518, which generally form the structure of the second sleeve504. The second sleeve 504 may also include the chute 526.

The chute 526 may include an item hole 524 disposed at the base of thechute 526, and an agitator hole 528 to accommodate at least a portion ofthe agitator 516 when the palm-press dispensing mechanism 500 is in thecompressed state. The chute 526 may generally be a component that ispositioned to receive the items from the reservoir 530 and guide theitems to a user-accessible location. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, thereservoir 530 may be contained within the second sleeve 504. However,one of ordinary skill will recognize that the palm-press dispensingmechanism 500 may be attached to a separate container including areservoir that houses the items. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the chute526 may include a substantially funnel-shape structure having rampedsurfaces 532, which may be asymmetrical ramped surfaces 532, e.g.,including different slopes and with the item hole 524 off-center from acentral axis 534. The asymmetrical shape may assist in preventing theitems from jamming within the palm-press dispensing mechanism 500. Thechute 526 may include a chute path 536 that guides the items from thereservoir 530 to the item hole 524 and into the dispenser tube 514,which receives the item in the item seat 522 and allows a user to accessthe item when in the compressed state. The agitator 516 may assist withguiding the items into the item hole 524 of the chute 526. The locationof the item hole 524 and agitator 516, combined with one or both of thesloped ramped surfaces 532 and the asymmetric shape of the agitator 516,may assist in preventing jamming due to a concentration of items at thecenter of the palm-press dispensing mechanism 500 (e.g., from uniformgravitational pull). The chute 526 may be connected to the second sleeve504 using a snap retaining feature or the like.

The operation of a palm-press dispensing mechanism will now bedescribed.

In operation, a user may actuate the palm-press dispensing mechanism 500by applying a pressing force normal to the cap 512 to an end of thepalm-press dispensing mechanism 500 (e.g., an end of the first or secondsleeve 502, 504). When a pressing force is applied, the first sleeve 502and the second sleeve 504 may slide relative to one another along thefirst and second sleeve walls 506, 508 thereby creating the compressedstate (where the base 510 and the top 518 are separated by a smallerdistance than a distance between the base 510 and the top 518 when thedevice is in an uncompressed state). Also, when the first sleeve 502 andthe second sleeve 504 slide relative to one another to create thecompressed state, the agitator 516 may protrude through the agitatorhole 528 of the chute 526. The motion of the agitator 516 combined withthe shape of the agitator 516 may thereby agitate the items and directat least one of the items through the item hole 524 and onto the itemseat 522 of the dispenser tube 514. In this manner, because the itemseat 522 of the dispenser tube 514 is exposed when the palm-pressdispensing mechanism 500 is in the compressed state, the item disposedon the item seat 522 is also exposed and thereby dispensed.

The palm-press dispensing mechanism may include childproofing.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the childproofing in the palm-press dispensingmechanism 600 may be enabled by the inclusion of tabs 638. Specifically,tabs 638 may be disposed on the second sleeve walls 608, where they aremovable toward a central axis 640 of the palm-press dispensing mechanism600 when a tab pressing force normal to the central axis 640 is appliedto the tabs 638. The palm-press dispensing mechanism 600 may furtherinclude protrusions 644 extending from the chute 626 (or other componentof the palm-press dispensing mechanism 600) disposed adjacent to thetabs 638. The protrusions 644 may be movable with the tabs 638. Thepalm-press dispensing mechanism 600 may further include notches 646disposed on the first sleeve 602. The notches 646 may be releasablyengaged with the protrusions 644 when the palm-press dispensingmechanism 600 is in the uncompressed state, where the engagement betweenthe protrusions 644 and the notches 646 prevents movement of the firstsleeve 602 relative to the second sleeve 604. When a user applies thetab pressing force to the tabs 638, the tabs 638 may move theprotrusions 644 toward the central axis 640 disengaging the protrusions644 from the notches 646 and allowing the first sleeve 602 and thesecond sleeve 604 to slide relative to one another to create thecompressed state (when the pressing force normal to the cap 612 is alsoapplied to an end of the palm-press dispensing mechanism 600).

A counting mechanism will now be described.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show cross-sectional views of a counting mechanism 700,where FIG. 7A shows a first position and FIG. 7B shows a secondposition. In general, the counting mechanism 700 may be used with any ofthe devices described herein or any dispensing devices known or thatwill be known in the art. For example, the counting mechanism 700 may beused in conjunction with a housing including a reservoir configured tohold a plurality of items, a cap for the housing, where the cap includesa dispensing hole, and a chute coupled to the reservoir, where the chuteincludes a dispensing path to direct at least one of the items throughthe dispensing hole. In general, the counting mechanism 700 mayincrement each dispensing operation, which could be useful ifdispensing, e.g., a dose of medication. The counting mechanism 700 maygenerally include a rocker mechanism 702, a biasing member 704, a pin706, and a dial counter 708. The counting mechanism's 700 count mayrepresent, for example: (1) the total number of items dispensed sinceopening, or (2) the total number of items remaining. As described below,reliable counting may be enabled in the following manner: (1) the rockermechanism 702 may not engage if an item is not inside it, in otherwords, if the user actuates the dispenser but no item comes out, thecounting mechanism 700 may not increment; and (2) the rocker mechanism702 may not engage until the item has left it, in other words, if theuser does not extract the dispensed item (assuming the item has not leftthe rocker mechanism 702), the counting mechanism 700 may not increment.

The rocker mechanism 702 may be included along a dispensing path of adispensing device in communication with the dispensing hole (e.g.,located along the dispensing path before the dispensing hole or afterthe dispensing hole). For example, the rocker mechanism 702 may belocated adjacent to an exterior of the dispensing hole. The rockermechanism 702 may be pivotable about a pivot point 710, where thepivoting of the rocker mechanism 702 may be relative to the chute,dispensing hole, or other component of a dispensing device. The rockermechanism 702 may include an item seat 712 for temporarily holding anitem 714 being dispensed.

The biasing member 704 may be mechanically coupled to the rockermechanism 702. The biasing member 704 may include a biasing force thatholds the rocker mechanism 702 in the first position as shown in FIG.7A. The rocker mechanism 702 may be pivotable into a second position asshown in FIG. 7B when a force is applied to the item seat 712, whichcauses compression of the biasing member 704. The force applied to theitem seat 712 may include the weight of the item 714 on the item seat712. The biasing member 704 may include a leaf spring or the like.

The pin 706 may be attached to the rocker mechanism 702. The pin 706 maybe movable with the rocker mechanism 702. The pin 706 may includesurfaces that come to a point, a pointed structure, an extension, aprotrusion, or the like.

The dial counter 708 may be disposed within the housing of thedispensing device and/or within the counting mechanism 700. The dialcounter 708 may be rotatable, e.g., relative to the housing or othercomponent of the dispensing device. The dial counter 708 may beconfigured to be engaged by the pin 706 when the pin 706 completes apivoting motion. The pin 706 may be said to complete a pivoting motionwhen the item 714 is dispensed, or when the counting mechanism 700 movesfrom the first position to the second position and back to the firstposition. The dial counter 708 may be a rotary counter or the like. Forexample, the dial counter 708 may be a rotating horizontal or verticaldial. Alternatively, the dial counter 708 may be a digital counter,where interaction with the pin 706 may be a physical interaction orotherwise (e.g., electrical, magnetic, etc.). The counting mechanism 700may include a viewing port or the like configured to provide a view of acurrent count of the dial counter 708.

Operation of a counting mechanism will now be described.

The item 714 for dispensing may be directed onto the item seat 712 ofthe rocker mechanism 702 when the counting mechanism 700 is in the firstposition. The weight of the item 714 may concurrently compress thebiasing member 704 and pivot the rocker mechanism 702 into the secondposition. The second position may include a position of the item seat712 where the item 714 is released from the item seat 712, e.g., due togravity. Releasing the item 714 for dispensing from the item seat 712may cause the biasing member 704 to pivot the rocker mechanism 702 backinto the first position. The pin 706 may engage the dial counter 708through this range of motion, e.g., upon the movement from the firstposition to the second position or upon the return from the secondposition to the first position, or incrementally through all motions.The engagement of the pin 706 with the dial counter 708 may cause thedial counter 708 to rotate, where the rotation thereby counts a numberof items 714 dispensed by the counting mechanism 700 or device.

Additional features of the devices, systems, and methods describedherein will now be discussed.

In one aspect, the device may include at least one of a door and/or atleast one window. The door may be in cooperation with the reservoir andbe configured to allow access to the plurality of items in thereservoir. The window may include a translucent surface in cooperationwith the reservoir and be configured to allow viewing of the pluralityof items in the reservoir. For example, the reservoir may have a door onone of its faces, which could allow for users to add or remove anynumber of items, and which may have a visual indication upon it thatwarns users not to insert incompatible media. In one implementation,this door may be a simple face that swings open on a hinge once a latchis released. In another aspect, this door may be a face cap-like piecethat snaps into place and may or may not be removable. In one aspect,the reservoir housing the items may be transparent or translucent.

The device as described may, in acting as a cartridge, interact with oneor more configuration devices, such as a holder, a base and/or a clip. Aholder may store cartridges or other attached devices. A base maymanage, dispense and/or store consumables from attached cartridges orother devices. For example, the base may include a dispensing mechanismas described herein. A clip may be a lightweight, mobile attachment toone or more cartridges.

The cartridge may have an aesthetic design which may have either apolygon or a round base. The cartridge may have multiple reservoirs,where reservoirs may accept the same or different media/mediaproperties. Generally, while a single reservoir is depicted, it will beunderstood that a cartridge may have any number of reservoirs, and maybe configured for independent dispensing from each reservoir, ordispensing in combination from multiple reservoirs. The reservoirs maybe configured for either or both of similar or different media types(i.e., items). By way of example, one of the cartridges may include atleast two types of consumable units in at least two independentlydispensing reservoirs. More generally, one of the cartridges or anynumber of the cartridges may include three or more types of consumablesin three or more independently dispensing reservoirs. The independentlydispensing reservoirs may be independently controllable by thedispensing mechanism in order to permit customized consumable unitsbased on mixtures of the two or more types of consumables. The twoindependently dispensing reservoirs may also or instead be commonlycontrolled by the dispensing mechanism to provide a mixed consumablehaving a predetermined composition in response to a single dispenseinstruction from the dispensing mechanism. The cartridge may alsoinclude a mixing system such as a stirring system, blending system,agitation system, pill press, and the like to combine the two types ofconsumable units into a single, composite consumable unit, which may bea pill, a capsule, a suspension, and a solution. In this manner, acartridge may serve as a personal compounding system for home-mademedications, supplements, and so forth.

In one aspect, multiple dispensing mechanisms could function as modulesand attach to each other, in a manner that for instance connects theirchutes together into one or more integrated chutes.

The dispensing mechanisms and counting mechanism may work universallywith different item sizes (e.g., different pill shapes and sizes), in atleast one of several ways such as the two following: (1) for eachgrouping of item size/shape, there may be slightly different mechanismdimensions (achieved by slight variations on the mold tooling andmanufacturing line), though the exterior form does not change; (2) theremay be a universal mechanism with a small collar within that isadjusted, e.g., on the packaging line for different groupings of itemsize/shape.

In one aspect, the device may include a memory, for example, a memoryconfigured to store data regarding the item. The memory may beconfigured to store the numeric count of the number of items in thecartridge or dispensing mechanism. The cartridge or dispensing mechanismmay include circuitry configured to detect the numeric count of thenumber of consumable units. The system may include an order fulfillmentsystem. The device may be configured to dispense items from one or morecartridges according to a predetermined schedule, and the orderfulfillment system may compare the numeric count of the plurality ofitems to the predetermined schedule to determine when a replacementcartridge should be ordered for the user. The order fulfillment systemmay include computer code executing on the processor of the base. Theorder fulfillment system may also or instead include computer codeexecuting on a remote server coupled in a communicating relationshipthrough a data network to the device. The order fulfillment system maybe configured to order the replacement cartridge. The order fulfillmentsystem may be configured to notify the user to order the replacementcartridge.

The system may include cartridge data for one of the cartridges storedin a cartridge memory, along with a remote data store that redundantlystores the cartridge data. The cartridge memory may reside in the base,or in one of the cartridges. A reconciliation service may be provided toreconcile data between the remote data store and the cartridge memory.

The system may include a network interface for coupling one of thecartridges to the data network, with the network interface configured totransmit data between the cartridge and a remote resource according to apriority. In this manner, data may be prioritized, such as in limitedconnectivity contexts, to ensure that the most important or highestpriority data is exchanged first. The priority may be based on a degreeof redundancy so the least redundant data is exchanged first. Theprioritization may occur at any point in the corresponding dataconnection, and may for example be implemented in one or more of thecartridge, the base, and the remote resource. In one aspect, the networkinterface may include a wireless communication interface in the one ofthe cartridges, which may couple in a communicating relationship to,e.g., the base station with a short range wireless protocol or a widearea data network using a cellular or other wireless data networkinfrastructure.

It should further be appreciated that the methods above are provided byway of example. Absent an explicit indication to the contrary, thedisclosed steps may be modified, supplemented, omitted, and/orre-ordered without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

The method steps of the invention(s) described herein are intended toinclude any suitable method of causing such method steps to beperformed, consistent with the patentability of the following claims,unless a different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear fromthe context. So for example performing the step of X includes anysuitable method for causing another party such as a remote user, aremote processing resource (e.g., a server or cloud computer) or amachine to perform the step of X. Similarly, performing steps X, Y and Zmay include any method of directing or controlling any combination ofsuch other individuals or resources to perform steps X, Y and Z toobtain the benefit of such steps. Thus method steps of theimplementations described herein are intended to include any suitablemethod of causing one or more other parties or entities to perform thesteps, consistent with the patentability of the following claims, unlessa different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear from thecontext. Such parties or entities need not be under the direction orcontrol of any other party or entity, and need not be located within aparticular jurisdiction.

It will be appreciated that the methods and systems described above areset forth by way of example and not of limitation. Numerous variations,additions, omissions, and other modifications will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art. In addition, the order or presentation ofmethod steps in the description and drawings above is not intended torequire this order of performing the recited steps unless a particularorder is expressly required or otherwise clear from the context. Thus,while particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications in form and details may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this disclosure and are intended to form apart of the invention as defined by the following claims, which are tobe interpreted in the broadest sense allowable by law.

1. A device comprising: a reservoir configured to hold a plurality ofitems; a chute coupled to the reservoir, the chute including a chutepath to direct at least one of the items into a position for dispensing;a housing about the reservoir and the chute; a cap for the housing, thecap including a dispensing hole, and the cap movably coupled relative tothe chute to permit the dispensing hole to move into and out ofalignment with the position for dispensing; an agitator positionablewithin the reservoir; and an actuator mechanically coupled to theagitator and the cap, the actuator configured to concurrently move theagitator within the reservoir to agitate the items and move the caprelative to the chute to align the dispensing hole with the position fordispensing.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the chute includes surfacesasymmetrically arranged about an axis of the reservoir, the surfacesforming the chute path.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the agitatorincludes an asymmetrical shape.
 4. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising at least one container including the plurality of items, theat least one container engaged with the housing using at least one of: asnap-fit connection, a screw connection, a friction-fit connection, apronged connection, and an electromagnet connection.
 5. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising an attachment coupled to the housing by anattachment mechanism, wherein the item is dispensed through thedispensing hole and into the attachment.
 6. The device of claim 1further comprising a memory configured to store data regarding the item.7. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a door and awindow, the door in cooperation with the reservoir and configured toallow access to the plurality of items in the reservoir, the windowincluding a translucent surface in cooperation with the reservoir andconfigured to allow viewing of the plurality of items in the reservoir.8-10. (canceled)
 11. The device of claim 1 further comprising: a firstsleeve of the housing, the first sleeve including first sleeve walls anda base comprising the cap, the first sleeve further including theagitator; a second sleeve of the housing including second sleeve wallsand a top, the second sleeve slidably engaged with the first sleeve suchthat, when a pressing force normal to the cap is applied to an end ofthe device, the first sleeve and the second sleeve slide relative to oneanother along the first and second sleeve walls thereby creating acompressed state for the device where the base and the top are separatedby a smaller distance than a distance between the base and the top whenthe device is in an uncompressed state; and a dispenser tube protrudingthrough the base of the first sleeve and including an item seat, whereinthe item seat is concealed by the base of the first sleeve when thedevice is in the uncompressed state, and wherein the item seat isexposed when the device is in the compressed state, wherein the chute isdisposed within the second sleeve, and wherein the chute includes anitem hole and an agitator hole, wherein the dispenser tube is situatedbelow the item hole, and wherein, when the first sleeve and the secondsleeve slide relative to one another to create the compressed state forthe device, the agitator protrudes through the agitator hole of thechute thereby agitating the items and directing one of the items throughthe item hole and onto the item seat of the dispenser tube such that theone of the items is exposed when the device is in the compressed state.12. The device of claim 11 wherein the item has a specific item size anditem shape, and wherein the dispenser tube includes a size and shapeconfigured to cooperate with the item size and item shape and todispense the item.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein the dispenser tubeis removable and replaceable with a second dispenser tube having atleast one of a different size and shape. 14-20. (canceled)
 21. Thedevice of claim 1 further comprising: a first surface at a base of thereservoir, the first surface including a first hole; and a secondsurface disposed below the first surface and rotatably coupled to thefirst surface, the second surface including a second hole configured foralignment with the first hole when the first surface and the secondsurface are placed in a predetermined rotational alignment relative toone another, wherein alignment of the first hole with the second holeforms the dispensing hole for the device.
 22. The device of claim 1wherein the dispensing hole is formed in a dispenser tube that isremovable from and replaceable to the device to facilitate replacementof the dispenser tube with a second dispenser tube shaped having asecond dispensing hole configured to dispense different items having adifferent shape or size from the plurality of items.
 23. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising an adjustable component in-line with thedispensing hole and configured to adjust a size of the dispensing holeto dispense different items having a different size or shape from theplurality of items.